The Big Idea Of the Old Testament

Law Historical BooksPoetic Books Major ProphetsMinor Prophets Old Testament

God as the Creator

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26)

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – In the Image of God –Stewardship and a basis for Ecology – Federal Headship

And the LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. (Genesis 2:8).

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.“ (Genesis 2:16-17)

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel. (Genesis 3:15)

Seed of the WomanSeed of the Serpent Cain & Abel

And Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel; for Cain killed him." (Genesis 4:25). Seed of the WomanSeed of the Serpent AbelCain Lamech Literally, “another SEED”

Seed of the WomanSeed of the Serpent Abel & SethCain Lamech Enoch Noah ShemHam AbrahamCanaan

Genesis 11:29-30 And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 And Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Genesis 12:1-2 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

● Ur Haran ● And Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew… …and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. (Genesis 12:5).

Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Literally, “to your Seed”

Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Lot, the Nephew of Abram Eliezer of Damascus Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.“ (Genesis 15:4).

Genesis 15 & The Covenant Ceremony So He said to him, "Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. (Genesis 15:9-10).

Genesis 15 & The Covenant Ceremony And it came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram… (Genesis 15:17-18).

Quest for a Son Lot, the Nephew of Abram Eliezer of Damascus Ishmael Isaac – “Laughter”

Abraham’s Test And Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14).

Seed of the WomanSeed of the Serpent IshmaelIsaac Abraham JacobEsau 12 Sons of Israel

The Big Idea Of the Old Testament

EXODUS New Testament CROSS

EGYPT MIDIAN Sinai

Egypt in the days of the Exodus

The Plagues of Egypt painted by Joseph Turner in 1800

EGYPT “YAM SUPH”

Exodus from Egypt: 10 Plagues Giving of the Law: 10 Commandments Building the Tabernacle: 10 Items

The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34)

Leviticus: The Book of Holiness Leviticus tells us of the worship taking place in the Tabernacle Exodus ends with the construction of the Tabernacle

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments… (26:3) I will give you rain The land will yield its produce The trees of the field will bear fruit You will eat your food to the full I will grant you peace You will chase your enemies I will make you fruitful and multiply you I will dwell with you

If you do not obey Me and carry out all these commandments… (26:14) I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever You shall sow your seed uselessly You shall be struck down before your enemies Those who hate you shall rule over you You shall flee when no one is pursuing

If, after these things, you do not obey me… (26:18) I will punish you seven times more I will break down your pride of power Your strength will be spent uselessly Your land will not produce its produce The trees of the land will not yield their fruit

If, then you act with hostility toward Me and are not willing… (26:21) I will increase the plague seven times I will let loose among you the beast of the field They shall bereave you of your children and destroy your cattle

If, by these things you are not turned to Me… (26:23) I will strike you seven times I will bring upon you a sword I will strike you with a pestilence Your bread shall be rationed

If, in spite of this, you do not obey Me… (26:27) I will punish you seven times more You shall eat the flesh of your sons and daughters I will cut down your high places I will lay waste your cities I will make the land desolate I will scatter you among the nations and you will perish among the nations

EGYPT Kadesh Barnea SINAI The people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. (Numbers 13:28).

EGYPT Kadesh Barnea SINAI EDOM

Reuben Gad Mannaseh Book of Deuteronomy “Second Law” Preamble Historical Prologue Stipulations Blessings, Cursings, and Ratification of the Covenant Succession Suzerain Treaty

Moses dies Joshua takes the land

“The Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD.” “The LORD sold them into the hands of their enemies” “And when the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD…” “The LORD raised up a deliverer.”

“The Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD.” “The LORD sold them into the hands of their enemies” “And when the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD…” “The LORD raised up a deliverer.” Ehud Deborah Gideon Jephthah Samson

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. Levite from Bethlehem becomes a priest to the people of Dan 17:119:1 Concubine from Bethlehem murdered in Gibeah and sparks war against tribe of Benjamin

Jebus (Jerusalem ) Gibeah Bethlehem Hill Country of Ephraim

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. Levite from Bethlehem becomes a priest to the people of Dan 17:119:1 Concubine from Bethlehem murdered in Gibeah and sparks war against tribe of Benjamin Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem where Ruth has grandfather of David Ruth

The Big Idea Of the Old Testament

Saul Judge Prophet Priest Tribe of Benjamin City of Gibeah Anointed as King Samuel

Jabesh-gilead AMMON Gibeah And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” (1 Samuel 11:7)

1 Samuel 15:1-3 1 Then Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD. 2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

Israel Amalekites

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”

1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king."

1 Samuel 15: And as Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

David’s Rise to Power The Goliath Incident Growing Popularity Fugitive

Mount Gilboa Shunem So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa. (1 Samuel 28:5).

Endor Armies of Israel Philistines

1 Samuel 28:11-12 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

1 Samuel 28:13-14 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being [Elohim] coming up out of the earth.” And he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.

1 Samuel 28:18-19 “As you did not obey the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath of Amalek, so the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the Lord will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the Lord will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!”

Hebron JUDAH Jerusalem David as King King over Judah King over Israel Capital in Jerusalem

ASSYRIA EGYPT Solomon’s Kingdom

1 Kings 4:25 So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. Dan Beersheba

And it came about when the priests came from the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. (1 Kings 8:11-12).

1 Kings 11:1-2 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, "You shall not associate with them, neither shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods." Solomon held fast to these in love.

1 Kings 11:3-4 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. 4 For it came about when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

1 Kings 11:30-31 Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes.’”

1 Samuel 15 Samuel & Saul Saul tears Samuel’s robe and it is used as a picture of the kingdom being torn from Saul 1 Kings 11 Ahijah & Jeroboam Ahijah tears his robe and gives 10 pieces to Jeroboam to illustrate how the kingdom will be torn apart Jesus on the Cross The veil of the temple is torn from top to bottom to show the way to the kingdom of God has been opened Matthew 27 Mark 15 Luke 23

The Big Idea Of the Old Testament

Law Historical Books Major ProphetsMinor Prophets Old Testament Poetic Books

Suffering Song of Solomon Ecclesiastes Proverbs Psalms Job Worship Wisdom Life Love Man on his face before God Man before the throne of God Man receiving instruction from God Man looking for satisfaction in life Man in a loving relationship

JUDAH ISRAEL Shechem Penuel  Bethel Dan Elijah & Elisha Isaiah Hosea Amos Jonah Micah Joel

ASSYRIA 721 B.C.

ASSYRIA Jeremiah Nahum Obadiah Habakkuk Zephaniah

BABYLON Nobility (Included Daniel & his friends) Tradesmen (Included Ezekiel)

Ezekiel 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel 10:18-19 Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. 19 When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD's house. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.

Ezekiel 11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood over the mountain which is east of the city.

BABYLON 586 B.C.

1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. 2 Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. 3 For there our captors demanded of us songs, Psalm 137:1-4 And our tormentors mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion." 4 How can we sing the LORD's song In a foreign land?

Babylon PERSIA Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia - in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah - the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom... (2 Chronicles 36:22).

2 Chronicles 36:23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!'" Cyrus the Great

Babylon Three Deportations Nobility (Included Daniel & his friends) Three Returns Tradesmen (Included Ezekiel) General Population 1 st Return Zerubbabel 2 nd Return Ezra 3 rd Return Nehemiah

"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1).

I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (Deuteronomy 18:18) A Prophet

A Priestly Sacrifice But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5).

A King And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14).

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Micah 5:2)